THE SERPENT MURAL in progress, West Ajijic,Mexico

     Last year the village of Ajijic built a retaining wall on the main highway directly across from us. They were happy when I agreed to paint a mural on it. (My expense, of course.)  The wall is 4 feet tall and a block long. I took a sabbatical from writing   Max Bird of Aztec Studios  in March to accomplish  this. This mural reflects the work we do in our painting and weaving studios.  It re-creates the tapestries we weave on our Spanish colonial looms in a more lineal form.  Intertwined among undulating serpents are the monkey god, running possum, crocodile that inhabited the bottom of Lake Texcoco in Aztec times-- and a baby eagle.  You Tube video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwVd8CGt_Z0

     I have taken photos of my original to scale drawings and a duplicate pattern painted in color which my painter used as reference in painting the wall. Last week, as the painters were putting the final touches on the mural, I walked along beside it filming with my digital camera. 

     The mural was painted by a sign painter from Chapala, Abel Rivera.  He is an artist in his own right, and if you are interested in painting a mural he can make a pencil sketch from your photos. His telephone # is 331-362-8916.  Our gallery is open Thursday and Friday. If you would like his business card, or want to contact him and don’t speak Spanish we would be happy to help you.